The spokesmen for the Saudi-led coalition, Brigadier General Ahmed Asiri, announced the end of Operation Restoring Hope and the beginning of a new phase of operations on September 7. Asiri stated that the coalition’s operations will no longer be reactionary and will instead actively seek out al Houthi-Saleh fighters and leaders responsible for the planning and implementation of cross-border attacks on Saudi Arabia. Asiri’s announcement defined a target set for the coalition air campaign that includes border positions, al Houthi-Saleh leaders, military sites, and leaders’ home cities.[1]

A Hadi government delegation refused to return to negotiations until the al Houthi-Saleh Supreme Political Council (SPC) is abolished in a meeting with UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed on September 7. The Hadi government also demands that al Houthi-Saleh forces disarm and withdraw from seized territory before negotiations resume.[2]

Hadi government forces supported by coalition Apache helicopters repelled an al Houthi-Saleh attack near Midi city, Hajjah governorate on September 7. Coalition helicopters strafed al Houthi-Saleh positions near the Yemeni-Saudi border following the attack. The Saudi-led coalition announced a new operational phase focused on targeting al Houthi-Saleh forces in the border region on September 7.[4]

Yemen Foreign Minister Abdul Malik al Mikhlafi urged the international community to increase support for President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government’s campaign against the al Houthi-Saleh alliance on September 7. Foreign Minister al Mikhlafi stated that “more pressure” is needed to bring al Houthi-Saleh forces to the peace process.[6]

Horn of Africa Security Brief

Somali National Army (SNA) and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces killed at least eight al Shabaab militants at a camp in Budbud village in Galgudud region, central Somalia on September 7. SNA and AMISOM forces recovered multiple grenades and one piece of artillery from the site. Dozens of al Shabaab militants fled the camp. Al Shabaab later claimed to recapture Budbud. Government sources denied this claim. Militants retreated to nearby Moqokori village and may intend to counterattack in Budbud. Al Shabaab militants seized police headquarters and administrative buildings in Budbud on September 3 before preaching to residents. Al Shabaab militants attacked SNA and AMISOM positions near Budbud with mortars and small arms fire on September 6.[7]

Militants detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) planted near a military checkpoint in Wahar-Adde area, Heliwa district, northern Mogadishu on September 7. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which caused no casualties.[9]

Kenyan police arrested a suspected al Shabaab militant in Kwale County, southeastern Kenya. Kenyan officials announced the arrest of Mwandego Mohamed, a Ugandan national who allegedly planned to conduct attacks inside Kenya. Police recovered a grenade and bomb-making components, according to official statements.[10]

A ban on flights carrying qat into Somalia from Kenya took effect on September 6. The Somali government announced the ban on qat, a mild stimulant, on September 5. Some reports alleged that the government instituted the ban in preparation for the annual East African Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) summit, which will convene in Mogadishu on September 10. The Somali government denied this connection. Officials in the semi-autonomous Puntland state defied the ban and permitted five Kenyan flights carrying qat to land in Galkayo and Qardho on September 7. Kenyan qat farmers in Nyambene, Meru County, Kenya blocked streets to protest the ban.[11]